Looks like Discovery has found a narrator for their upcoming “Human Planet” television event.

Four years in the making, the series is a “majestic portrait of people’s incredible ability to survive and thrive in our planet’s most extreme environments.” Over 70 locations, featuring nearly every habitat (Arctic, Rivers and Oceans, Mountains, Grasslands, Jungles, Deserts, etc.) will provide the backdrop for “intensely captivating stories of human perseverance and survival.”

The UK version was narrated by veteran actor John Hurt (Harry Potter, Indiana Jones), but when I asked the network what American voice would be behind their version (Discovery has a habit of pulling British accents), a rep said that there were no plans to hire a recognizable name/voice.

Enter Mike Rowe. The “Dirty Jobs” host (who also pitches for Ford) has been announced as the voice behind “Human Planet”. Sure, he’s not a big name celebrity like Oprah, but definitely not an unknown either. He’s also done this type of thing before – narrating other Discovery series like “American Chopper”, “American Hot Rod”, “Deadliest Catch”, “Wild Pacific”, and “Ghost Lab”.

We’ll see later this month how Rowe stacks up against previous narrators like Sigourney Weaver and Oprah. “Human Planet” hits the Discovery Channel Sunday April 10, 17 and 24, with two episodes airing from 8-10PM ET/PT each night.

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About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.